The cheesesteak is as much a part of Philadelphia lore as the Liberty Bell, Rocky Balboa running up the steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Indiana’s Love sculpture. For proof, look no further than the corner of Wharton and 9th Streets where Pat’s King of Steaks is still going strong nearly 100 years after it opened. Even though people call them touristy, they still have their place in the conversation because without Pat's cheesesteaks, there would be no cheesesteak,” Wesolowski explained.
He continued: “There's been a renaissance of cheesesteaks as of late. If you are a Philadelphia native, you just go to your regular cheesesteak shop that's down on the corner at the mommy poppy store [where] you can get a cheesesteak under $10. But now we're seeing a rise of almost a $20 cheesesteaks- that’s an elevated cheesesteak.” That renaissance was kicked off in earnest when Cooper Sharp cheese, a highly meltable, processed American cheese beloved by Philadelphians since the early 1900s, was introduced to the cheesesteak equation.
It’s debatable which was the first restaurant to use the cheese, but it is clear who made it popular: Danny DiGiampietro. He was the one who decided that he’s going to bake his own bread, use high-quality meat, use Cooper Sharp,” Wesolowski said. The honor highlights Michelin Guide inspectors' favorite restaurants that deliver great-quality food at moderate or affordable prices.
"Angelo's reputation has always been built on quality. We bake our bread fresh every day and use freshly cut ribeye steak, which creates a noticeable difference in every cheesesteak. It's a simple approach, but when you start with exceptional ingredients and focus on consistency, people can taste the difference,” Pino DiMeo, partner at Angelo’s Pizzeria told Newsweek.
Traditionally, cheesesteaks were ordered with or without “wiz,” short for Cheez Whiz, but now that Cooper Sharp has come into popularity, it’s being adopted by legendary cheesesteak joints, including Pat’s, which allows customers to choose from Cheez Whiz, provolone, American or Cooper Sharp cheese. Del Rossi's Cheesesteak & Pizza Co. is another Philadelphia gourmet cheesesteak staple. The shop opened in 2012, was purchased by current owner Nish Patel in 2020, and has undergone a culinary makeover.
The eatery, which has served actor Mark Ruffalo, soccer star Mario Balotelli Barwuah and music superstar Benny Blanco in recent weeks, bakes its own bread for the sandwiches, a seeded sourdough baguette. Del Rossi’s is listed in this year’s Michelin Guide, which only started highlighting Philadelphia restaurants in 2025. They’re a Jamie's Beard Award-winning cheesesteak shop, and they are they're up there with my favorite, my top three.” Like Pat’s John’s Roast Pork has been in business since 1930 but continues to thrive because of the city’s affinity for the meat sandwiches.
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